Pittsburgh Zoo introduces African painted pups

Overhead view of five adults and eight pups in the African Painted Dog pack

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

African Painted Dogs tear apart a fire hose to get food

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

This is the young girl, Marissa Smail , whose family adopted the shelter dog who was the surrogate for the pups whose mother died a year and a half ago.

From left to right, Tiko McKnight, a Seattle native now in Botswana. Karen Vacco , asst. Curator of the Pittsburgh Zoo. Greg Rasmussen, of Zimbabwe, founder of Painted Dog Conservation.

These are pieces of artwork made out of snares by villagers in Zimbabwe. Snares are used by poachers, and kill and maim the dogs. The villagers find the snares remove them and make conservation artwork to sell.

Overhead view of five adults and eight pups in the African Painted Dog pack

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

African Painted Dogs tear apart a fire hose to get food

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

PHOTO: Sally Wiggin

This is the young girl, Marissa Smail , whose family adopted the shelter dog who was the surrogate for the pups whose mother died a year and a half ago.

From left to right, Tiko McKnight, a Seattle native now in Botswana. Karen Vacco , asst. Curator of the Pittsburgh Zoo. Greg Rasmussen, of Zimbabwe, founder of Painted Dog Conservation.

These are pieces of artwork made out of snares by villagers in Zimbabwe. Snares are used by poachers, and kill and maim the dogs. The villagers find the snares remove them and make conservation artwork to sell.